Between a Rock and a Hard Place
By Miles ·
A solitary, windswept tree clings to the granite rocks of Belstone Tor, its twisted branches shaped by years of exposure to the Dartmoor weather.
Life on Dartmoor isn't always easy, particularly if you're a tree trying to establish yourself amongst the granite boulders of an exposed hillside.
This small, weather-beaten tree has somehow found a foothold among the rocks on Belstone Tor. Its trunk twists upwards before bending sharply to one side, with a tangled mass of bare branches stretching out across the sky.
Years of exposure to the prevailing winds have helped shape its rather unusual appearance. Instead of growing tall and straight, it has adapted to its surroundings, becoming a wonderfully crooked little character.
The great granite boulders scattered around its roots seem to hold it in place, while the rolling hills and open countryside of northern Dartmoor provide a spacious backdrop.
I find a certain stubbornness in trees like this rather appealing. They survive in places where conditions are far from ideal, clinging to whatever shelter and nourishment they can find.
The black-and-white treatment brings out the intricate shapes of the branches and the rough textures of the surrounding granite, giving this little survivor a character all of its own.
Between a rock and a hard place, quite literally. And apparently making the best of it.